Cholo

(18) Dieciocho

Her hand hovered over the product in a dubious manner. She pondered on the thought, calculating the days, then proceeded on having an internal conflict. The thought of an error in her calculation caused her hand to drop to her side. Maria bit her lip as she narrowed her eyes; her gaze averted from one object to the one next to it. The higher the price, the better the quality, right?

Maria turned to the other shelves and grabbed ahold of the nearest object; a condom. Great, you couldn't have grabbed anything else. She smiled at the old lady that passed her. The elder woman mumbled a biblical phrase as she passed. Mia rolled her eyes and grabbed both types of pregnancy tests, and shoved them beneath a pile of chips. She laid a hand on her belly. A smile stretched onto her lips but only for a fleeting moment as it dissolved away to sound of his voice: "Heard the good news. Congrats, Papa."

Turning a corner, she glimpsed Oscars back and who appears to be Marco. She blurted his name as she walked towards the two. Marco greeted her with a hug and his toothy grin. Maria smiled at him. She felt Oscar's arm snaking around her waist as he pulled her closer to him, while his other arm grabbed ahold of her basket. The nurse leaned onto him, basking in his warmth. Her fingers laced into his. Marco glanced between the two, a smile playing at his lips.

"Baby mama cravings?" Asked Oscar, glancing at the pile of sweets on the counter.

"Congratulations, Güey [dude]." Mia smiled at Marco, pitying him for falling into the typical role.

"Thanks, Mia." He scratched his head. "Uh, nah. These are for Ruby."

She watched Marco closely as her sense of pity escalated and she felt herself worry over Ruby. Maria knew that no amount of sweets and candy can have Ruby jumping about like his old self. And Oscars booming laughter did not help ease her escalating worry for the child.

"¡Súbelo!" As the bodega owner cranked up the volume, Mia found herself leaning further into Oscar. The Santos took notice and his grasp on her waist tightened. "So how's the little man?"

Marco stared at the counter as he spoke. His voice was laced with worry. "oh, you know, he's been better."

Oscar's eyes averted to Marco as he craned his neck to peer at him. "He's been through it."

"Yeah, man." Both men nodded. Marco sighed, drawing Mia back to the conversion. He crossed his arms, eyes glued back to the counter. "Uh, I've never seen him like this before. Been monitoring him and," he looked up at Oscar with a helpless look, "nothing will get him out of bed."

"Nothing?" The Santos quirked his eyebrow in question. A sly expression etched onto his face. The men shared a look and both nodded in silent agreement. Mia rolled her eyes once again as she grabbed ahold of her shopping basket while pushing herself away from her boyfriend.

"You boys are alone in this." But Oscar was quick to grab ahold of her hand. Tugging lightly, he pulled her closer. Slipping some cash into the back pocket of her jeans, he patted the pocket twice. Grinning slyly as Maria tried to swat his hands away. With a kiss on her forehead, the two men left her at the bodega to continue shopping. She sighed as she glanced down at the peaking pregnant test.

"How am I suppose to tell him this?" She muttered under her breath. 

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Frantically, and almost as her finger was stuck to doorbell, Mia rang it. The 'ding-dong' sound repeating in a hectic tone. It was frustrating to Jada for it felt like she was shoved into a race with an endless tone. Her footsteps thundered beneath her as she skipped down the stairs. She muttered cusses grumpily.